Maianthemum bifolium - False Lily of the Valley

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Asparagales - Family: Asparagaceae

This pretty little wildflower is a very rare sight in Britain, and it is uncertain whether the few plants that exist in the wild there are truly native or were introduced in the distant past.

Description

Also referred to as May Lily or Mayflower, this perennial member of the Asparagus family grows in colonies from spreading rhizomes. Typically, plants reach a height of about 10 to 15cm. With normally just two glossy, heart-shaped leaves, each stem has a spike of tiny (a mere 3 to 5mm in diameter), stellate (star-shaped) white or pale cream flowers, which are followed by poisonous (to humans, at least) red berries.

Distribution

Growing wild in much of western and central Europe, including Slovenia, as well as parts of Asia, this plant has been introduced to most other temperate countries. In Britain, where Maianthemum bifollium is classified as 'vulnerable', isolated colonies that may be native still exist in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Durham.

Habitat

A plant most commonly seen in shady deciduous woodlands and particularly on woodland edges and sheltered stream banks, False Lily of the Valley needs moist, well-drained humus-rich soil and favours neutral to slightly acidic areas.

Flowering times

False Lily of the Valley can be seen in bloom from April to June. The specimens shown on this page were photographed in Slovenia in early June.

Etymology

The genus name Maianthemum comes from ancient Greek words - maios, the month of May, and anthos meaning flower. The specific epithet bifolium comes from Latin and refers to the (usually) two leaves low down on each flowering stem.

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